Billy Joe Saunders has admitted that a fight with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is out of reach for the time being as the reigning WBO super-middleweight champion instead is setting his sights on Callum Smith and Demetrius Andrade.
Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) had praise for compatriot Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) but none whatsoever for Andrade (29-0, 18 KOs) in a video he posted on social media as he looks for his first in-ring action since an 11th-round knockout of Argentina's Marcelo Esteban Coceres to retain his title last November at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“This is just a little message to any super middleweight,” the 31-year-old said. “Canelo, I’ve been waiting around for, as you well know, so that one looks parked up.”
Eddie Hearn, who promotes the three fighters, was quoted recently as saying that a fight between Smith and Saunders should be next with Alvarez seemingly having no interest in either for the time being.
“Callum Smith and [Demetrius] Andrade, let’s get it on,” Saunders added. “Callum, you’re a great fighter, a really good fighter [and the fight would be a] unification. I reckon we can get it on.”
2018 Muhammad Ali Trophy winner and current WBA and The Ring super-middle kingpin Smith has also been waiting to return since last November, when he defeated John Ryder in controversial fashion at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
WBO middleweight titleholder Andrade, meanwhile, has a mandatory challenger in British champion Liam Williams (22-2-1, 17 KOs).
“Andrade, you’re just a little p— who keeps running," said Saunders.
"You don’t want to fight anybody, but let’s go. So 168 [pounds], November or December, we [are] ready, boy.”